The Foreign Ministry issued a warning on Monday reminding Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan during the Spring Festival holiday.

In recent times, public security in Japan has deteriorated, with frequent criminal incidents targeting Chinese citizens in the country, and a series of earthquakes in some regions has caused injures, the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry said in an online statement.

Chinese citizens in Japan are facing serious security risks, the statement added.

The ministry and the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan warned Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near future as the Chinese New Year approaches, while reminding citizens in the country to closely follow the security situation there.

The ministry and its diplomatic missions in Japan also asked Chinese citizens to pay attention to the earthquake and secondary disaster warnings, enhance their safety awareness, and take necessary precautions to protect themselves, the statement said.

In case of emergencies, Chinese nationals are suggested to promptly call local police and contact the Chinese embassy or consulates in Japan for assistance, the statement added.